Hawk sack: Kennett says sorry

By Matt Murnane and Will Brodie

As Hawthorn players came to the defence of Alastair Clarkson, Jeff Kennett issued a public apology to the premiership coach, less than 24 hours after calling for his sacking.

With Kennett's extraordinary Easter Monday attack on Clarkson still dominating the airwaves on Tuesday, the outspoken former club president ensured a few more hours of media attention by releasing a letter of apology addressed to his former colleague.

Kennett admitted frustration had got the better of him and it was wrong to single out Clarkson for Hawthorn's recent failings in big games, such as those against Geelong, of which the Hawks have now lost the last 10.

But Kennett stood by his view that Hawthorn had underperformed in the past three years and did not specifically retract his opinion that the team needed a ''fresh voice'' in the coach's box.

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The other side of Kennett: The former Hawthorn president with coach Alastair Clarkson after the Hawks beat Adelaide in the preliminary final last year.

Photo: Sebastian Costanzo

''Yes, someone must accept responsibility for those defeats. But maybe in my support of my club I have come to expect too much!'' Kennett said in the letter.

''And on reflection, I was wrong to single out Alastair alone. He, like all at the club, have done their best and Alastair has personal values which I have always gratefully respected. To make judgments based on one game is inappropriate. I sincerely apologise to Alastair and his family for any grief I have caused them.''

An embarrassed Kennett admitted on Tuesday that he got carried away when speaking to 3AW just minutes after the Hawks' seven-point loss to Geelong at the MCG that ensured the ''Kennett curse'' lived on.

Kennett launched a stinging attack, calling for Clarkson to either step down at the end of the season or be sacked, and also criticised some of the coach's tactical decisions - despite the Hawks leader being widely recognised as one of the AFL's best.

While media commentators slammed the premature and sensational nature of Kennett's attack, theage.com.au was hit with a flurry of comments from passionate Hawthorn supporters who agreed with Kennett about the team's performance in games that counted most and that perhaps the players had been ''listening to the same voice for too long''.

High-profile commentators called for Hawthorn to take a strong stand against Kennett's tirade, but no formal public response came from the club on Tuesday.

President Andrew Newbold and chief executive Stuart Fox both said on Monday night that Kennett's critique was ''unworthy of a response''.

It was left to senior player Brad Sewell and captain Luke Hodge to field media questions, with Sewell rubbishing Kennett's suggestion that Clarkson's message had grown stale among the playing group.

Sewell said Kennett had overlooked the fact that, as well as Clarkson's style and tactics evolving, the coaching team around him had also changed constantly during his tenure.

''We have had a number of assistant coaches come into the organisation and they've added so much to the group as well,'' he said. ''So there is no doubt whatsoever that his message is still being heard.''

Hodge gave an insight into the frustration Kennett's comments had caused inside the club.

''Jeff has done great things for our football club when he was president,'' Hodge said on Nova 100.

''Now he is a frustrated person who is very opinionated. Some of the things [he says], I think he should think before he speaks. A lot of smart people in football disagree with what he had to say. You have to take the good with the bad.''

Sewell said he doubted whether Clarkson paid any attention to judgments made externally - whether they were from Kennett or not - and believed it would not have affected the coach.

But Sewell and Hodge both conceded that the storm Kennett had created would be an issue the club would have to keep dealing with.

''I don't think that will ever not be the case,'' Sewell said when asked if the players wished Kennett would refrain from inflammatory statements.

''That was certainly the case while he was here and that is just the type of person he is.''

Kennett attempted to call Clarkson and sent him a text message, and also spoke to club chief executive Stuart Fox in an attempt to personally apologise to the coach.

Here is the letter in full:

I apologise to Alastair Clarkson. I was out of line yesterday in holding him solely responsible for our club not saluting in the last three years and for our performance yesterday. It is true that with our list of players and the support the club has given the football department that I felt we have underachieved over that three year period.

Of course that is a subjective view, and on each occasion we were beaten by a better team on the day. And yes, someone must accept responsibility for those defeats. But maybe in my support for my club I have come to expect too much!

And on reflection I was wrong to single out Alastair alone. He, like all at the club, have done their best and Alastair has personal values which I have always gratefully respected. We are all responsible for the good times and less successful.

Monday's game was a classic in that Hawthorn performed well in the first half and Geelong less so. But after halftime Geelong came out on a mission and turned the game on its head. Our five goal advantage, which became three goals just before half time, quickly disappeared. We seem to have lost our mojo as Geelong found theirs.

The performance of (Paul) Chapman always has me in awe. He is consistent in his toughness and drives the ball every time he gets his hands on it. (Joel) Selwood is a wonderful leader who sets a very high standard of both leadership and effort.

Not to say Hawthorn was without contributors through (Sam) Mitchell, (Brad) Sewell and ever competitive (Josh) Gibson. But, sadly not as competitive enough across the group as our opponents.

I guess when you have witnessed the club grow since 2005 to the level of membership and good health it enjoys today, you just expect it to keep performing at the highest level. Hopefully that will continue to be the case and the season has just started, so to make judgments based on one game is inappropriate.

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That said, the tribal nature of the game drives our emotions and yesterday, in my frustration, I wrongly singled out Alastair and for what was a team result for which we all must accept irresponsibility and be challenged to do better, week on week.

I sincerely apologise to Alastair Clarkson and his family for the grief I have caused them.